The nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year 1432, today by organising various programmes at public venues in the capital and elsewhere across the country.
Entities under the ministry of cultural affairs and various cultural and social organisations and educational institutions have taken preparations to celebrate the day amid heightened security measures on the occasion.
The day begins with Chhayanaut鈥檚 traditional cultural event at the Ramna Park while Dhaka University will bring out the main traditional New Year procession from its campus, which has recently been renamed聽 Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra in place of Mangal Shobhajatra celebrated from 1989.
The DU authorities said they have brought back the original name to make the celebrations more inclusive. 聽The original title of the procession was Ananda Shobhajatra.
Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday in a message greeted the country鈥檚 people on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.
In his message, he said that Pahela Baishakh is one of the symbols of harmony.
鈥楾he Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, various communities and the peoples of the hills and plains of this country -- all together, the people of this country have diverse languages, cultures and traditions,鈥� said Professor Yunus.聽
Cultural organisation Chhayanaut organises the Pahela Baishakh celebration programme at the Ramna Green, the biggest event organised every year since 1967 to celebrate the Bengali New Year.
The Chhayanaut programme begins at 6:15am to the playing of the Ahir Bhairab raga. The two-hour programme features solo and group songs and recitations, including the singing of the Tagore song 鈥楢mar mukti aloy aloy.鈥�
鈥楢lthough the overall preparations were interrupted because of different issues, including setting fire to two motifs, we are ready to hold the traditional colourful procession in its full form as planned. Artists are working hard to remake the damaged motifs and we hope they will be displayed in the procession,鈥� said Md Azharul Islam Sheikh, dean of the DU fine arts faculty,聽 adding that he welcomes all to participate in the rally ignoring confusions created by some vested groups.
On Saturday, a miscreant had set fire to a motif symbolising a 鈥榝ascist face鈥� at the fine arts faculty creating security concerns.聽聽聽聽
Dhaka University, in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, will organise the Barshabaran Ananda Shobhajatra that will start at 9:00am from the DU Faculty of Fine Arts premises. The procession will carry traditional motifs created as usual by students and teachers of the faculty while the BSA will coordinate 27 ethnic minority community presentations, which will present their vibrant cultural identity in the colourful procession. 聽
DU and Shahbagh metro stations will remain closed on Pahela Baishakh from 8:00am to 12:00pm to ensure security for the celebrations.
Besides, public participation in the Pahela Baishakh celebrations will be allowed until 5:00pm. Thereafter, entry will be open only to students and staff concerned.
After visiting one of the key celebration points in the capital鈥檚 Ramna Park, the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion, Shahidur Rahman, on Sunday said that extensive security measures have been taken across Dhaka and the rest of the country over the Pahela Baishakh celebrations to make sure that the celebrations are safer, smoother and more joyful than in previous years.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police chief Sajjat Ali on Sunday said that the police have tightened security to ensure peaceful Pahela Baishakh celebrations although there is no security threat.
The ministry of cultural affairs will organise a concert, together with a drone show, at Manik Miah Avenue in Dhaka today at 3:00pm on the occasion.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy and Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation will also organise separate cultural events and fairs to celebrate the Bengali New Year.